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Publication Date Headline Outlet URL Snippet 04-Feb-2018 Scotland left reeling by crushing Six Nations setback... MailOnline Click to open Stuart McInally says Scotland’s NatWest 6 Nations capitulation in Cardiff was “a bitter pill to swallow”. Scotland arrived at the Principality Stadium scenting a first victory in the Welsh capital since 2002, having crushed Australia earlier this season and ran world champions New Zealand close. But optimism was quickly replaced by damage limitation as Wales scored two converted tries during the opening 12 minutes and then ran out 34-7 victors, with Scotland restricted to a late Peter Horne try that Finn Russell converted for their only scoring contribution. France head to Murrayfield next Sunday, and the Scots have to regroup quickly or their Six Nations campaign could collapse into a complete state of disrepair. “We spoke so much during the week about coming down (to Cardiff) and winning,” Scotland hooker McInally said. “It is a bitter pill to swallow. A lot of the points they scored were our doing, our errors, so that is something we need to look at ourselves – how do we get better on that front. “It was 14-0 after 14 minutes – something like that – but the tries they got were two errors from us. They didn’t have to work too hard for them. They got an intercept where we just set up our carrier really wide, and then (Gareth) Davies picked that off. “There was not too much panic at that point because it was all our doing, and that is the most frustrating thing. Jonny (Gray) was carrying well, and we had the better rugby in the first half.” Scotland prevented any further Wales points before half-time, but two quickfire Leigh Halfpenny penalties shortly after the break left McInally and company 20 points adrift and with no hope of a comeback. “We didn’t seem able to string more than a few phases together, and their defence was excellent,” McInally added. “They just played better than us. “They are a quality team that are littered with British and Irish Lions and quality players who are in really good form for their clubs, so we knew how tough it would be to play them in this competition away from home. “We wanted to come here and play well, which we didn’t.” McInally admitted the second quarter proved frustrating as Scotland strived to reduce their 14-point deficit, failing to capitalise on territorial supremacy. “I felt we played the better rugby and were constantly in their half, but we were not getting anywhere,” he said. “They were well-disciplined and were not giving up many penalties, and we always seemed to be on the wrong end of those penalties, which was annoying. “You struggle to get into the game in that way, but credit to Wales, they played really well.”

Publication Date Headline Outlet URL Snippet 04-Feb-2018 RUGBYU Ireland Overseas digital experts contribute over £600k to island Bailiwick Express Click to open Johnny Sexton’s stoppage-time drop-goal snatched a 15-13 win over France in Paris. Ireland’s self-belief will hit new heights after Saturday’s last-gasp triumph over France in Paris, according to Conor Murray. Johnny Sexton’s nerveless added-time drop-goal sealed Ireland’s 15-13 NatWest 6 Nations victory at the Stade de France, leaving Murray heaping the plaudits on his half-back partner. Ireland ploughed through near-on 40 phases when Sexton landed the winning goal in the third minute of added time at the death, after Teddy Thomas’ converted try had stunned the visitors and stolen Les Bleus the late 13-12 lead. Sexton kept his cool to dispatch his long-range drop-goal however, sparking jubilant Irish celebrations – but also, according to Murray, cranking up the never-say-die attitude in Joe Schmidt’s men. Asked how the nature of the win would boost Ireland psychologically, Murray replied: “It’s huge; it’s going to be a completely different Monday now. “Doubts do creep into your head and you’re trying to stay positive throughout all that. “It was so important for us to get a win here, and it means we can refocus on the next game against Italy on Monday now. “If we were to lose it would change the complexion of our entire Six Nations, everyone knows that.” Ireland can roll into three successive home matches now, with Italy, Wales and Scotland all heading to Dublin, before the Twickenham showdown with England on March 17. As Ireland nudged upfield, inching further into French territory at the death on Saturday, Murray admitted he and Sexton exchanged no words in setting up the drop-goal attempt. Instead Murray revealed a simple flick of Sexton’s eyebrows proved enough for both British and Irish Lions half-backs to know what was coming next. And after a slow-motion age for the ball to land over the posts, Murray conceded Ireland’s giddy stars “celebrated like footballers” on the Stade de France turf. “You’ve got a rough idea of the distance he needs for a drop-goal, and then you’re communicating with the forwards but also keeping an eye on him,” said Murray, recalling the set-up for that winning goal. “I think it was just a look really. You can judge by his body language, and then he just gave me a flick of the eyebrows to know he needed it, we got a bit of momentum and a quick ruck, and that was perfect for us. “Sometimes it doesn’t work. It’s a really difficult thing to do, so as a team I thought it was a really clinical way to close out the game. “After Johnny had struck it when I turned around he was all the way down the other end of the field in the 22. “He claims he was going down to look at the other screen but there was one right in front of him. I knew when he struck it it looked like it had the legs. “They are the moments you’ll remember forever, when you’re just ecstatic. “I’m sure we’ll get a bit of stick for it in the review, for celebrating like footballers, but it was natural. They are the moments you really enjoy. “It happened in slow-motion, it was a surreal moment, but great.”